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HMG Tech News Digest December 14

In the world of information technology, smaller is usually better. Intel understands that perfectly, which explains the motivation behind its modular approach to building seriously tiny chips.

“At an Architecture Day event hosted this week, Intel articulated an unusually lucid strategy for its development of future processors, most of which will revolve around fragmenting the various elements of a modern CPU into individual, stackable ‘chiplets,’” writes Vlad Savov of The Verge. “Intel’s big goal for late 2019 is to offer products built on what it calls Foveros 3D stacking: an industry-first implementation of stacked processing components inside a chip.”

The stacked modules are actually something of a workaround that will enable Intel to deliver full-stack capabilities within the 10 nanometer size range. According to experts, it would have been harder for Intel to jam all the requisite capabilities into a single tiny chip.

“The cyberattack on the Marriott hotel chain that collected personal details of roughly 500 million guests was part of a Chinese intelligence-gathering effort that also hacked health insurers and the security clearance files of millions more Americans,” according to the newspaper report.

The U.S. and China are embroiled in a trade dispute in which cyber-attacks, questionable technology transfers and intellectual property theft play major roles. The new revelations connecting China with the Marriott breach are likely to escalate tensions between the two nations.

Google CEO Testifies Before Congress

Google CEO Sundar Pichai was hammered with tough questions from GOP lawmakers about the search giant’s alleged anti-conservative bias, but largely escaped criticism over the extent of its commitment to protecting the privacy of users.

Pichai testified before the House Judiciary Committee, which split along partisan lines in its questioning. The Republican members focused mostly on questioning Google’s commitment to political fairness, suggesting the company has a liberal bias.

“While Google denies accusations of bias, the claims against the company could actually could help it avoid new regulations by fueling a partisan split and paralyzing any action in Congress,” writes Jason Abbruzzese of NBC News.

FCC Empowers Carriers to Crack Down on Spam

Wireless carriers now have the option to limit spam text messages, which is good for consumers but also raises concerns over possible censorship.

“At its monthly meeting Wednesday, the Republican-led agency voted 3-1 to classify SMS text messages as a so-called Title I information service under the Telecom Act. The three Republicans on the FCC, which voted to adopt the classification, said this would allow phone companies to block spam text messages,” writes Marguerite Reardon of CNET. “FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said the new classification would empower wireless providers to stop unwanted text messages.”

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